By JOE BOCANEGRA
Special to the NEWS
It may be the end of the San Benito Youth Baseball/Softball League (SBYBSL) as we know it.
SBYBSL President Frank Garza expressed concern Tuesday over what he said was the planned acquisition of the league by the City of San Benito Parks and Recreation department.
What has thus far been confirmed are the city’s plans – pending commission approval – to operate the youth league, this according to Parks Board Chair Zeke Luna.
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Ester Rivera Hernandez, …taking your grandaughter to play in Harlingen doesn’t help the matter either! All your doing is supporting Harlingen! My husband took our son to play over there one year and boy do they have their problems too. All leagues do! The only difference is that many work collaborately with their respective cities. Instead, you should focus on how you can make a difference for our league. For one, if you want volunteers at the concession stands…why don’t you offer to volunteer and work 4-6 hours in a hot concession stand?? Times have changed Mrs. Hernandez! Now we have lots of chiefs and not enought Indians!! I don’t blame the league for hiring people to run the concession stands. I for one allowed my teenage daughter to help while being paid a couple of years ago. It was a win-win deal, because it allowed my daughter to learn about working and earning money. And to me, that was well worth it, and I applaud the league for that! I will never take my son to play in Harlingen again! We are from San Benito and will support our community…period!! I hope you do to Mrs. Hernandez!!
All this bickering about who controls the baseball league this year is going to lead to nothing more than people taking their kids to play in Harlingen where they only have to pay $30 to have a child play. The $40 fee that has been imposed these past few years is outrageous, especially for people who have more than one child playing. I remember when the fees were not much and we would get at least a participation trophy for each kid. Now we get nothing but maybe a shirt and cap and sometimes these are late or have to be redone.
Picture taking should also be done locally. Last year I paid for a family package and only got photos for one child instead of three. When I went to the photo shop in Harlingen they said they had given the photos to the coach but the coach said he never got them. What a ripoff!
Another thing that I have not approved of is that everybody gets paid for doing a job. The running of the concession stand has become a big moneymaker, mostly for the family of the board members who also help themselves to as much food as they can eat, along with their families. A better system has to be in place to keep those with sticky fingers from having cash stick to them. One person should be in charge of the cash register and nobody else should put their hands in. Call me crazy but I remember when volunteers would run the whole show. Now it’s a big moneymaking business.
Like I said Harlingen is going to be the winner again. I took my granddaughter to play in the Winter league over there and I think we are probably going to play the summer league too if all this is not resolved.
Zeke Luna and volunteers will be doing the registration this year? What a joke!! Instead Mr. Luna and his friends should be supporting the League already in place. And by the way…how does one get on this so called PHONY Parks & Recreation Board??? hmmmmm???? Where was Mr. Luna and this board when the league needed help years back?? Over the years the league operated just fine with the help of the community and yes plenty of dedicated volunteers. Yes, they had their rough years, but they have always pulled through. LEAVE THE LEAGUE ALONE!!! Thank you Mr. Cassidy for pointing out how important it is to keep the league and tradition in our city. For years, the league was led by strong leaders like Mario Silva, Carlos Flores, Manny Medrano, Arnold Padilla, Pete Avila, and Frank Garza…just to name a few. Have they been invited to be part of this Parks Board?? I seriously doubt it! As far as for PONY? They have always favored having tournaments in Harlingen to beging with!! Everyone knows that! So please don’t underestimate our volunteers Mr. Luna!!! Good Luck Mr. Luna….you sure are gonna need it!!! BOTTOM LINE: The city simply does not want to work with the league and its volunteers. It was control over all our organizations!! Yet Mr. Luna and his city friends forget that we are all voters and we sure will not forget this curve ball on our youth!! SHAME!!!
Something I find disturbing about the city’s actions is its intentions to have registration for baseball and softball on Saturday, January 14, when the commission does not meet again until January 17, and, therefore, cannot grant its approval prior to then. It would be presumptuous of anyone acting on behalf of the city to proceed with registration on the 14th unless permission already exists. Any action taken on behalf of the city prior to the next city commission meeting would reek suspiciously of a ‘walking quorum,’ deny the citizens their right to be fairly heard either for or against this action on public comments, and make the spirit of open government in San Benito nothing more than a sham.
Mark, my dear friend: Do not be disturbed any further! The Parks & Recreation Board, and not the city, is conducting registrations for the baseball/softball league. Registration is being conducted by the P&R board members and other volunteers (note the word “volunteers”), and any fees collected will be submitted to the City of San Benito, to be held in escrow until such time as an individual/group is approved by the city commission to run the league. The reason for beginning registration is history has taught us that registrations should really begin the first week in January in order to afford parents of prospective players as many opportunities and as much time to register their children. Documentation will be kept at registration and receipts given to parents at the time of registration to ensure that no “hanky-panky” occurs. The right of citizens/groups to be heard either for or against any action on public comments will still be in place, and, as a matter of fact, will be most welcomed. IT IS INTERESTING TO NOTE THAT PART OF THE PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED LAST YEAR WAS THAT REGISTRATION WAS DELAYED UNTIL FEBRUARY, THUS CAUSING A “RUSH-RUSH” MENTALITY. REST ASSURED THAT EVERYTHING WILL BE DONE “ABOVE BOARD” AND YOU, SIR, ARE WELCOME TO COME BY THE REGISTRATION SITE SATURDAY AND ASSIST ME IN KEEPING EVERYTHING STRAIGHT–HEAVEN KNOWS I NEED ALL THE HELP I CAN GET!
I find it interesting, Mark, that you choose sides and do not attend any Park Board meetings (or volunteer to join) before heaving stones and inuendos in our direction. You obviously chose the side that is easist for you to comprehend, since you choose not to hear the truth before going off half cocked in your opinions. Being the past Park Board Chair, I welcome you, or anyone supporting you, to join with Zeke and I as we muddle through the matters that come before our Board. (that includes tonite at 6p.m.) Zeke, and our BOD spent many hours correcting the past mishandling of the baseball/softball leagues. This was done in an honest attempt to right the wrongs that were committed. We did everything in open Commission meetings, and we will continue on this path. We welcome any and all constructive help and corrective suggestions. We do not welcome any more devisive comments directed at our BOD, who strive for the betterment of all citizens of San Benito, and not just a select few as you seem to do.
Mike, several points: First, I did not attack the Park Board or you and Zeke. I know full well the time you both spend, starting at 6 AM, to care for the parks and fields. I commend you both for your efforts! Secondly, I was in attendence at the commission meeting last fall when you and Ms. Mulligan outlined to the commission what was described as “deplorable conditions” of the fields and concession stands, complete with 8×10 color glossies. I sat there as you sought and received commission approval to terminate the contract with the SBYBSL. Third, I did question the SBYBSL about what I heard at that meeting. I listened to both sides. I listened when you padlocked the fields and failed to give the SBYBSL the proper notice, as per the contract, that it was cancelled. I have heard both sides, Mike, and I chose the side I felt was morally wronged.
The photos you presented to the commission of rodent droppings last season were taken long after you delayed registration for 2011 by failing to commit the ball fields to the SBYBSL. The city’s attempt to back the Boys and Girls Club to take baseball and softball away from the SBYBSL happened in at least 2010, maybe even before. What this tells me is that there are those at the city who want to kill off the SBYBSL that has served this community for decades. Maybe that person is you. But the organization is still alive and, like most living things, I’m going to fight to keep it alive.
We are both old enough to know, Mike, that just about anything can be fixed. Same with the relationship between the city and the SBYBSL. You are right, I do not know every minute detail, but I do know enough to know that the troubles are not insurmountable. All it takes is for the two sides to want to fix the issues and work together to productively achieve success for both sides. Most importantly, success for the children of this community!
If you don’t want to do that Mike, then, yes, my attacks are directed at you.
Zeke, my dear friend and esteemed Chair of the P&R Board, I believe that a major obstacle to last season’s registration, which caused the delay until February, was the city’s reluctance to commit the use of city ball fields to the SBYBSL. In fact, that is the very reason delaying registration again this year. I believe this article documents the city backing another organization in an attempt to overtake the baseball and softball operations from SBYBSL for a couple of years, which has made it difficult on the organization to timely register when it has no commitment on fields. Perhaps the youth of San Banito would be better served if all the time and energy spent fighting the SBYBSL would be put into supporting it.
The people now running the SBYBSL are good, decent people who have been involved in athletics in this town for years; many having grown up playing in the league and on these ball fields. All they want is to continue the tradition of the league while providing the children of this community an outlet for athletic competition while learning sportmanship and teamwork. Perhaps us other adults can teach the children about the spirit of cooperation and community unity.
It is good that we should have this dialogue publicly to air the concerns of both sides. My hope is that we are not the only two reading this! While I cannot speak for the SBYBSL, and you cannot commit the city to any action on this matter whatever, it is my hope that the two of us can be the catalyst to unite both parties going forward, to put together the best damn baseball and softball city in all of Texas!
Seems to reason that a city as poor as the officials of San Benito claim should not be taking on unnecessary expenses, especially since the San Benito Youth Baseball/Softball League already exists – and has existed for quite some time – to shoulder that burden. From my understanding, the SBYBSL has every intention of operating this season but the city is mounting a hostile takeover. The city controls the ball fields, and it sure sounds like the city administration is taking their ball fields and going home.
Ever since the city raised the rental fees for its facilities in 2010, it has put itself in a position to unfairly dictate who can and cannot use their facilities. More than once the city has waived fees for some groups to hold activities while not waiving them for others. With this news about youth baseball and softball, and the recent reacquisition by the city’s Chamber of Commerce of the Youth Stock Show, it appears that the city is merely trying to strip these organizations of their autonomy, bringing them under the control of the city.
At the time the City Manager proposed fee hikes to the commission it seemed like a good idea for a cash-strapped city. Since then, however, the city has irrationally and discriminately wielded its power to take over organizations in spite of the potential costs to a city that claims to have no money. When the Stock Show organizers said they could not meet the city’s rental fees because it did not make enough money, rather than partner with them to make it work for both and generate some revenue for the city no matter how small, the city took over the show and all the cost involved with it.
Now it wants to do the same with baseball and softball. Rather than working with the established non-profit corporation SBYBSL – who does have the money to operate this season – the city wants to take it over and assume all the risks. It is nice that the city has “the financial and administrative means to make this possible this year.” All this time the City Manager and Mayor have been telling us that the city has no money, and now we are finding out they do have the money to do whatever they want, like overtaking established programs that have been running for years. If only they wanted to do what they were elected for, like fixing the streets.
If the city wants to use the excuse of long lines from last year that nearly resulted in people turning away, why will they not volunteer to sit at tables to help sign up these young people? If all it takes is a few more volunteers to keep the taxpayers money safe from risk, sign me up to volunteer!
The San Benito Youth Baseball-Softball League has been here for years! And they have done a great job running our baseball and softball programs for our youth. My kids played for the league and I personal saw the hard work it took to run and build this league to what it is today!!. Here again the city is trying to oust them out for no reason, and they are using this phony Parks Board to do it! Shame!! We all must come together to fight this. The city does not have the money, resources, help, and or enthusiasm to run it. I think this is simply a power move by the Mayor and his money hungry friends taking advantage of the league!! Why don’t they take over the Boys & Girls Club? They have had their problems too? Football registration this year was a mess!! Answer that Mr. Luna!! They won’t because the Boys & Girls Club is run by a for life board….all good buddies of the Mayor! Go figure! I for one will fight to keep our league in place! LEAVE THE LEAGUE ALONE!!! Mr. Editor can you please tell us in your story who is in this Parks Board?????? oh..oh..I can answer that…IT’S THE SAME PEOPLE!!! Shame! Shame! Shame!!!!
I appreciate your interest and comments on the SBYBSL; however, several items must be clarified. First, I will be the first to admit that the previous SBYBSL staff worked very hard in running the league. There is no disputing that fact. Second, as far as a “phony” parks board, I invite you to come by the ball fields at 6:00 a.m. each morning and work until noon every day, working hand-in-hand with “phony” park board members (on a voluntary basis, I might add) trying to better the fields. Take a drive by the fields today and tell me they don’t look 100% better than last year. (Note: PONY league officials stated that, due to the conditions of the fields last year, San Benito should not expect any PONY sponsored tournaments this year.) Third, the city will not have to invest any money into the proposed league, other than what the parks and recreation department already is providing. As a matter of fact, volunteers will prepare the fields for games, thus reducing the work expected from the parks and recreation department’s staff. Fourth, the mayor and commissioners have not received anything in writing as to the recommendation of the parks and recreation board to operate the league. So, laying blame on them is simply not true. Fifth, the parks and recreation board will expedite registration the eliminate either long lines and confusion. Whatever problems you claim occurred at the boys and girls club football registration have nothing to do with the upcoming baseball/softball registrations. You see, Mr. Rodriguez, there’s a lot of information you do not have in hand, information which might change your mind and opinions. I invite you to come out and assist us in this endeavour. . . . there are enough people out there criticizing. Come work with us and help our youth.